Well for piece of mind I'll get the belts changed. Be interesting to see the condition, but I suspect it'll be fine after which point I'll run the new ones for a longer time. Last change was done by a main dealer (last owner took it to the dealer for everything ) so will have genuine Alfa belts etc. , although maybe gates are actually better.Yeah the 145 was cutting out as well, so thought I'd better change it before I start driving it. Now waiting for April so I can tax it.

I went for the Dayco option in the end as it was the default and Italian. But then I thought the Gates have proved themselves and should have gone for those. Gates are a bit more expensive. You know I know that belts lasting 60k + are not the norm so wouldn't want to recommend that to anyone. First couple of years I got the 145 I looked after it but then I neglected it and just used it as a daily and even stopped changing the oil for around 4 years Yes. That's how low I stooped. But one thing I have never done is thrashed the engine to bits. I've always been good on the engine even if I did not change the oil. I built my first engine when I was still at school and I'm guessing that it's had an impact on my appreciation of the mechanics of moving parts. I had a BMW M1 which out accelerated me but you know I refused to trash my engine on it. It had 330 brake but you know what.. I know that engine power like that will never reach the limit before the driver has reached their limit. Sure enuff on the bendy bits I'm on his rear number plate. Proper fast motor it was though. I digress. Warm the engine up and the belt and you'll get a lot of mileage out the cambelt. Check the you ain't got oil leaks or a broken camshaft cover. Even if you have those and you're not violent with the engine you'll get miles.

I went for the Dayco option in the end as it was the default and Italian. But then I thought the Gates have proved themselves and should have gone for those. Gates are a bit more expensive. You know I know that belts lasting 60k + are not the norm so wouldn't want to recommend that to anyone. First couple of years I got the 145 I looked after it but then I neglected it and just used it as a daily and even stopped changing the oil for around 4 years Yes. That's how low I stooped. But one thing I have never done is thrashed the engine to bits. I've always been good on the engine even if I did not change the oil. I built my first engine when I was still at school and I'm guessing that it's had an impact on my appreciation of the mechanics of moving parts. I had a BMW M1 which out accelerated me but you know I refused to trash my engine on it. It had 330 brake but you know what.. I know that engine power like that will never reach the limit before the driver has reached their limit. Sure enuff on the bendy bits I'm on his rear number plate. Proper fast motor it was though. I digress. Warm the engine up and the belt and you'll get a lot of mileage out the cambelt. Check the you ain't got oil leaks or a broken camshaft cover. Even if you have those and you're not violent with the engine you'll get miles.

An M1 - wow! That's pretty exclusive. I'm not really a fast driver myself, but must admit I love the sound of this TS when revved a bit. I've noticed a very slight oil weep - not enough to actually drip on the ground, but enough to notice. Only seems to leak after the engine has been run as I cleaned it up whilst the car was in the garage for months and nothing re-appeared until I drive it for it's MOT. Looked like it was running down from the dipstick at first, but now not so sure. The cambelt cover is also slightly broken should I should probably glue a bit of plastic over the small hole or find another 2nd hand one somewhere to stop any dirt getting in.

Well tried to start the car the other day and the engine cranked, but refused to start. Spent about an hour trying to start it with no success so called the RAC. The guy couldn't confirm it as he didn't have the correct OBD cable, but suggested the crankshaft sensor was at fault. Considering I'd only changed it 2 weeks prior and the car started OK I assumed it must be an intermittently faulty part that I'd purchased Not happy considering the hassle it took to change, the fact that the car was booked in for a cambelt change the following day and I'd just taxed it for the first time since I'd bought it halfway through the month, yet it was now stuck on the driveway again. After a call to my local specialist to cancel my cambelt change, he suggested i take the O-ring off the sensor, refit and try and start it. I did and low and behold it started. Re-fitted the ring onto the sensor and again it cranked, but wouldn't start. Turns out the o-ring is too thick to allow the sensor to be clamped in close enough to "sense"! If I could actually get a proper spanner in there I might have a better chance of tightening it properly and squashing the o-ring, but as the best I can do is an allen key with the tips of my fingers on the short end, I'm not sure how I'll do this! Flippin ridiculous!Anyone come across this?

Well I got the crankshaft sensor sorted in the end. I had to trim the o-ring by half a mm all around. This allowed the sensor to sit correctly. It seems to be more of a problem with fitting it rather than the actual rubber seal, i.e. lying on your back trying to fit sensor in with the tips of your fingers whilst crushing you arm between subframe, hoses and sump means that you can't really push it in with the force needed. Trimming it just meant that less force was needed.

Whereabouts is it? Is it under the starter motor at the gearbox side of the engine..?

What did the sensor cost you..?

Yeah - under the starter motor. Circled in red is the new sensor fitted with it's allen bolt. Green is the old sensor dangling. Unfortunately the gap through which you can see them is too small for a human arm so I had to reach around (shown by the blue line). The sensor itself only cost £8 (after market part from ebay). Original Bosch one that I also tried was £30, but looks exactly the same so wouldn't bother.